360 Memoirs Bcniicc P. Bishop Museum 



and are manufactured in considerable numbers. No lathes have ever been intro- 

 duced into the Marcjuesas, and all wooden utensils are still made by aboriginal 

 processes modified only by the introduction of metal tools. The modern makers 

 have ceased to reproduce the more elaborate ancient forms and ordinary utensils 

 are rarely carved at the present time; but skillful carvers are still found in Nuka 

 Hiva and Hiva Oa, and especially in Fatu Hiva, which was formerly the artistic 

 center of the group. 



The jMarquesans employed a great variety of woods for their utensils, the 

 favorite being iiiio (Tliespesia populiiea). This tree has a dark brown heart 

 wood and white sap wood, while its softness and even texture make it especially 

 easy to carve. Next in importance came the temanu. This wood is light red to 

 yellow in color and somewhat harder and less even grained than the niio, but still 

 well adapted to the purpose. The trees attain a very large size, and on this ac- 

 count temanu appears always to have been used in ancient times for feast bowls 

 and other large vessels. Most modern utensils are made of this wood, as 

 the supply of large mio is practically exhausted. Mei (breadfruit) was used to 

 a limited extent, but was considered an inferior material. Fau wood, when 

 taken from old trees, was occasionally used, and small more or less ornamental 

 vessels were made from sandal wood or tea. Too. was especially difficult 

 to work on account of its hardness and its tendency to split, and objects 

 made from it seem to have been primarily intended to show the skill of the work- 

 man. A number of other woods were sometimes used for special purposes or in 

 the absence of better material, but according to informants, I'ai, a close grained 

 red wood which appears well adapted to bowl making, was never used because 

 it would split when exposed to the sun. 



Modern bowl makers shape their utensils with adzes and knives, but 

 knives are little used. The adzes are provided with iron blades made either from 

 plane irons or from sections of iron pipe, which has replaced the stone blades 

 of the toki kouma type. (See p. ^2;^,.) 



A well equipped workman employs a wliole series of adzes of diminishing size, the last 

 used being- miniatures only a few inches in length. Green wood is used when possible, as it 

 is softer and easier to work, but seasoned wood can also be used for bowls after it has been 

 soaked in the river for several weeks. A block considerably larger than the intended object 

 is first roughed out from the log, and is then worked down with the adz until the desired out- 

 line has been obtained. In all the examples seen approximately the final form was given to the 

 exterior before the excavation of the interior was begun. In making round bowls a pair of 

 European compasses are now used to outline the rim. but the shaping of the body is done en- 

 tirely by eye. In shaping the exterior a light glancing blow is used, the chips detached being 

 of such uniform size that a well made bowl just prior to polishing is covered with a multitude 

 of small regular facets like those on a bowl of beaten brass. In excavating the interior the 

 workman begins at the center, and gradually works back to the edges, hollowing the whole in- 

 terior to the depth of about an inch. He then begins at the center once more and excavates 

 another level, continuing until the desired depth is reached. The inside of an unfinished IjowI 



[100] 



